Sakhya bhav ras aisa, Govinda Radhey,
poorn brahm ko ji jiva ghora bana dey.
“The quality of divine love bliss experienced in sakhya bhava, the loving sentiments exemplified by Shri Krishna’s young cowherd friends, causes even supreme God, who is divinely contented, to become a horse for his friends to ride in their play.”
(Kirtan verse written by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on October 18, 2009, at Bhakti Dham, Mangarh)
In the Bhagwatam, Shri Krishna explains that He comes under the control of His devotees love. This is the special characteristic of divine love. During His descension period in Braj, Shri Krishna would play games with His childhood friends. The unique quality of divine love bliss experienced by his friends was called sakhya bhav, the feeling of loving equality found in a friendship relationship.
Shri Krishna played many games with his friends that would have a challenge. The person who lost had to become a horse and the person who won would become the rider and would sit on the loser. Shri Krishna would frequently lose the game and and He would have to become a horse. His friend would sit on Shri Krishna’s back, in the same way a child would sit on his father’s back, and say, “Chal ghore!” “Go, horse!”
This is the same supreme God who is worshiped through Vedic mantras in temples all around the world by the greatest of priests. But under the control of the love of His devotee, Shri Krishna would do anything desire to fulfill that devotee’s loving desire, and so supreme God would become horse.
If Shri Krishna’s friend felt his “horse” was going too slowly, he would also kick Shri Krishna from time to time. When this happened, Shri Krishna eyes would fill with full of tears. He would think, “All my devotees worship Me with love and reverence, and also with fear and formality. But my beloved friend has reached such a level of intimacy with me that He is kicking Me!” Then He would start running fast. After some time, He would slow down. It was not because He was tired. Instead, that kick was so sweet He felt, “I would like to feel it once again, so I can run past and give him joy.” So His friend would again give Him a kick, and again Shri Krishna would starts moving. This is an example of the loving leelas of sakhya bhava revealed in the Shrimad Bhagwatam and in the writings of Rasik Saints.
Rath yatra of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, on the occasion of Govardhan Puja.
Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Divali. It was the custom during Shri Krishna’s descension in Braj for the Brajwasis to offer food to Indra, the king of the celestial abodes, to propitiate him so that he would provide plenty of rain for their crops. The little son of Nand, Krishna, told the Brajwasis to stop worshiping Indra and instead to direct their devotion to Govardhan Hill, which was the form of God Himself.
All the food that was prepared to be offered to Indra was then offered to Govardhan Hill instead. At that moment Lord Krishna appeared on Govardhan Hill as Giriraj Maharaj and accepted all of their offerings. Then all the Brajwasis circumambulated the hill while singing the glories of Govardhan and dancing joyously.
Joyous renactment of Govardhan Leela at Bhakti Dham, Mangarh.
Jagadguru Shri Kripal Ji Maharaj as Giriraj Maharaj during Govardhan Leela, Bhakti, Dham, Mangarh.
.
